In collaboration with Stichting Spark and Sparda Organisation, and with support from the Government of the Netherlands, Human Security Collective hosted a Masterclass on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) in Erbil, from January 19 to January 21, 2025. The event brought together 30 attendees, including participants from the cities of Ranya, Chamchamal, and Halabja, as well as key stakeholders such as the PVE Coordinator from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and representatives from IOM, GCERF, and the Halabja Centre of Excellence.

The Masterclass aimed to strengthen the connection between the three cities and the KRG government, develop a PVE Plan of Action for the cities, and mobilize knowledge among PVE Committee members to shape effective strategies for the region. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions on the root causes of violent extremism in their cities and worked together to develop local preventive approaches. A key outcome was the creation of a Plan of Action, which will be further refined over the coming months. To ensure that the plan is aligned with local needs and perspectives, the methodology of Participatory Action Research will be applied, in close collaboration with local communities.

This Masterclass builds on a previous session held in January 2022 with the KRG government, which led to a delegation visit to the Netherlands. This event serves as a follow-up, linking local efforts with both the KRG’s and Iraq’s national PVE strategies.